Prosecution urges Corona to testify in his own impeachment trial

MANILA, Philippines—Chief Justice Renato Corona should heed the results of the recent survey by Pulse Asia and testify once the impeachment trial resumes, spokespersons of the prosecution panel said on Thursday. The survey showed that 47 percent of those polled believed that Corona was guilty.

In reaction to defense spokesperson Karen Jimeno’s statement that the 1,200 respondents might not effectively show the opinion of the 90 million Filipinos, Marikina Representative Romero Quimbo said that the Pulse Asia survey was scientifically done and had “always been relied upon even by politicians.”

He said that instead of attacking the survey, the defense should “see where the opinion is coming from and address it.”

House Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tanada III said that Corona’s approval rating was likely to worsen if he insists on not testifying.

“Present your evidence here. People are waiting for you to open your dollar accounts,” Quimbo urged the chief justice.